using new technology on old machines

It's also that this is the 'classic computers' list. To me, classic computing means rather more than just the hardware. It also covers the design and construction methods, technology and so on. And there seems to be precious little of that in a modern microcontroller acting as a clock oscillator. I find it odd that people want to have a lights-and-switches panel, but are prepared to totally adulterate the hardware of the machine that drives it. As an aside, when I restore m 11/730 I am in 2 minds as to what to do about the microcode load device. a TU58 emulator is certainly convenient, but I actually would rather get the real tape drives working if at all possible. After all that is what the machine was designed to use. Mine isn't, but then you knew that, right :-). When I moved house recently I think I had over 30 packing boxes of modern-ish components and more of valves and CRTs. Not counting the dozen or so boxes of PCBs (some to use, some to raid for parts). -tony